Robert D. Brownson

Shareholder

 

Since 1979, Robert Brownson has represented defendants in asbestos litigation. Since 1987, he has served as National Coordinating Counsel to defendants in the asbestos litigation for a number of companies. He has handled all aspects of their asbestos litigation management and defense in those roles.”

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota (1979)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (1979)
  • Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2005)

Education

  • J.D., with honors, William Mitchell College of Law (1979)
    • Editor and Staff Member, William Mitchell Law Revie
  • B.A., cum laude, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN (1975)

Representative Cases

Asbestos Litigation
  • Michael P. McGill and Tatyana McGill v. Conwed Corporation, U.S.D.C, District of Minnesota, Civil No. 17-01047 (SRN/HB), 2017.
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Co., 634 N.W.2d 401 (Minn. 2001).
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Corp., 443 F.3d 1032 (8th Cir. 2006).
  • State of Maryland v. Keene, et al., Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, No. 1108600.
  • City of Kansas City v. W. R. Grace, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. VA 86-019615 Civil Docket B.
  • In Re: State of West Virginia Public Building Asbestos Litigation, Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia, Civil Action No. 86-C-458.
  • City of Wichita, Kansas, a Municipal Corporation v. United States Mineral Products Company, a New Jersey Corporation; and Asbestospray Corporation, a New York Corporation, U.S.D.C., D. Kansas, Case No. 89-1331.
  • Board of Education for the School District of the City of Detroit v. Celotex, et al., Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, No. 84-429634-ND.
  • Board of Education of the City of Chicago, et al. v. ACandS, et al.; Evanston Community Consolidated School District No. 65 v. ACandS, et al,; Board of Education of High School District No. 211 v. ACandS, et al., Cook County Illinois, Circuit Court, No. 92 L 9933; No. 92 L 99332; No. 92 L 9927.
  • Mike Moore, Attorney General ex rel, State of Mississippi v. Flintkote, et al., Jackson County, Mississippi, Circuit Court, No. 89-5138 (2).
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Owns-Corning Fiberglas, et al., Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Superior Court, C.A. No. 90-3791-A.
Major Class Actions, Federal Court Multidistrict Litigation and Consolidated Personal Injury Trials in Asbestos Litigation
  • In Re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI), Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, MDL Docket No. 875.
  • In Re: Asbestos School Litigation, U.S.D.C., E.D. Pa., Master File No: 83-0268. National class action for removal of asbestos from public and private school buildings.
  • Central Wesleyan College, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated v. Asbestospray Corporation, et al., U.S.D.C., D. South Carolina, Civ. No. 2: 87-1860-B. National class action for removal of asbestos from public and private college and university buildings.
  • Prince George Center, Inc., et al. v. United States Gypsum Company, et al., Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, Civil Trial Division, May Term, 1986, No. 5388. National class action for asbestos removal from all buildings owned by private owners leased to the federal government.
  • Carol Fletcher, et al., on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Brooke Group, Ltd., et al., Mobile County, Alabama, Circuit Court, Civil Action No. CV97-913. Employers’ asbestos-related recoupment subclass co-counsel, national class action for all claimants for damages from smoking Liggett cigarettes.
  • Consolidated New York Powerhouse Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation, New York County, New York, Supreme Court.
  • Abate II Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Baltimore City, Maryland, Circuit Court. Consolidated trial involving approximately 1500 plaintiffs.
  • Monongalia Mass II, Monongalia Mass III Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Monongalia County, West Virginia, Circuit Court. Two separate consolidated cases each involving several hundred plaintiffs.
  • In Re: Asbestos Cases III Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Kanawha County, West Virginia, Circuit Court. Consolidated trial involving several hundred plaintiffs.
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Corp., U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota Civ. No. 92-0088 (DDA/RLE). Subrogation case involving several hundred former workers occupationally exposed to asbestos at a northern Minnesota mill manufacturing ceiling tile.
  • Wood Conversion Company v. Allstate Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, First State Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, and Westchester Insurance Company, Ramsey County, Minnesota, District Court, No. 62-CV-09-2420.
 
  • Panelist, Finding and Organizing Coverage, Perrin Conferences; Coverage and Litigation Issues Surrounding Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Abuse Claims, New York, New York, January 29, 2020.
  • Brownson, Robert D., and Brownson Kristi K., Current & Historical American Asbestos Regulations, 2020 update.
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2013 and 2014 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Analysis Group, June 1, 2015, Author, with ALRA Group,  http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2012 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, December 1, 2013, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Current and Historical American Asbestos Regulations; 2013 Update, Brownson & Linnihan, PLLP, Author with Kristi K. Warner (Brownson)
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Pfizer v. Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos Case Analysis: Parent Company Asbestos Liability, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2013 Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2011 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Litigation Risk Analysis Group, October 15, 2012, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Hidden Asbestos Liabilities in Corporate Transactions, Asbestos liability Risk Analysis Group, April 15, 2012, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2010 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2011, Author, with ALRA Group,   http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2009 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2010, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2008 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2009, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Effects of the 2008 Elections: Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Analysis Group, June 20, 2008, Author, with ALRA Group,   http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2007 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2008, Author, with ALRA Group, http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation: Update and Review: 2006 New Case Filing Summary and Analysis, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, 2007, Author, with ALRA Group,   http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Asbestos Claims and Litigation-Issues and Strategy: An Analysis of the Cases Against a Historical Context, Asbestos Liability Risk Assessment Group, Dec. 1, 2006, Author, with ALRA Group , http://www.alragroup.com/whitepapers.html
  • Benzene State of the Art; The Defense Perspective, Mealey’s Benzene Litigation Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, October 17-18, 2005
  • Presentation and Paper; Recent Developments in the Light Cigarette Litigation, Andrews Publications; Tobacco Litigation 2001; New Orleans, Louisiana, April 26-27, 2001
  • Invited Panelist, The Tobacco Defense in Asbestos Litigation: A Short Course, South Miami Hospital, Miami Florida, January 3, 2001
  • Technical Issues: The Migration of Toxins to Surrounding Areas of People, Mealey’s Daubert and Expert Admissibility Conference, pp. 401-28, Mealey’s Publications, 1999
  • Proceedings, Technical Issues: The Migration of Toxins to Surrounding Areas of People, Mealey’s Daubert & Expert Admissibility Conference, pp. 401-28, Mealey’s Publication, 1999
  • Presentation, The Use of Experts to Mount a Daubert Challenge to the Plaintiff’s Case, Mealey’s Daubert & Expert Admissibility Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, February 25-26, 1999
  • Mealey’s Toxic Torts: New Exposures Conference 1997, The Mechanics of Environmental Health Surveillance and Medical Monitoring, Proceedings, pp. 315-26, Mealey’s Publications, 1997
  • Proceedings, Current and Historical American Asbestos Regulations, 1st Italy – USA Conference on Malignant Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Related Neoplasms, May 30, 1997, Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease
  • Invited Speaker, Current and Historical American Asbestos Regulations, 1st Italy – USA Conference on Malignant Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Neoplasms, Belgirate, Novava, Italy, May 29-30, 1997
  • Presentation, SV-40-Contaminated Polio Vaccine Litigation, Mealey’s Toxic Torts: New Exposures Conference 1997, Amelia Island, Florida, January 20-22, 1997
  • Presentation, Problems, and Pitfalls in Medical Monitoring: Recent Developments, Mealey’s Toxic Torts: New Exposures Conference 1997, Amelia Island, Florida, January 20-22, 1997
  • Mealey’s Toxic Torts: New Exposure Conference 1997, The Mechanics of Environmental Health Surveillance and Medical Monitoring: A Checklist and Outline, Proceedings, pp. 315-26, Mealey’s Publications, Inc., 1997
  • Participant, Workshop, Simian Virus 40 (SV 40): A Possible Human Polyomavirus, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, January 27-28, 1997
  • Invited Participant, Workshop on Recent Advances on Pleural Mesothelioma, Department of Clinical Science and Biology, University Turin (Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche-Universita di Torino) Turin, Italy, May 7-8, 1996
  • Invited Speaker, Natural Resources/Restoration Damages, Mealey’s Toxic and Mass Torts: New Exposures Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 21-22, 1996
  • Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA), Toxic Tort/Environmental Law Committee, GET THE LEAD OUT – The Toxicology of Lead Exposure, Cross Examination of the Plaintiff’s Expert, Robert D. Brownson and Dr. Daniel Keyler, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 29, 1995
  • IAQ Publications, Inc., Indoor Environment ’95 Strategies for the New Era of Regulation, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Litigation: A Mock Trial, Parts I & II, Baltimore, Maryland, May 1-3, 1995
  • IAQ Publications, Inc., Lead Poisoning Report, Vol. 4, No. 1, Mock Trial Demonstrates Uncertainty In Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases, November, 1994
  • IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Publications, Inc., Lead Tech ’94 Conference, A Mock Trial, Robert D. Brownson and Steven Hays, Chairman, Gobbell Hays Partners, Washington, D.C., October 19, 1994

Note, Notice of Claim Requirement Under the Minnesota Municipal Tort Liability Act, 4 Wm. Mitchell Law Rev., Vol. 1, p. 93, 1978

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Contact Info

4800 Capella Tower
225 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402

612-332-4020

info@brownsonpllc.com

Robert D. Brownson

Shareholder

Since 1979, Robert Brownson has represented defendants in asbestos litigation. Since 1987, he has served as National Coordinating Counsel to defendants in the asbestos litigation for a number of companies. He has handled all aspects of their asbestos litigation management and defense in those roles.”

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota (1979)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (1979)
  • Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2005)

Education

  • J.D., with honors, William Mitchell College of Law (1979)
    • Editor and Staff Member, William Mitchell Law Revie
  • B.A., cum laude, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN (1975)

Representative Cases

Asbestos Litigation
  • Michael P. McGill and Tatyana McGill v. Conwed Corporation, U.S.D.C, District of Minnesota, Civil No. 17-01047 (SRN/HB), 2017.
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Co., 634 N.W.2d 401 (Minn. 2001).
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Corp., 443 F.3d 1032 (8th Cir. 2006).
  • State of Maryland v. Keene, et al., Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, No. 1108600.
  • City of Kansas City v. W. R. Grace, et al., Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case No. VA 86-019615 Civil Docket B.
  • In Re: State of West Virginia Public Building Asbestos Litigation, Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia, Civil Action No. 86-C-458.
  • City of Wichita, Kansas, a Municipal Corporation v. United States Mineral Products Company, a New Jersey Corporation; and Asbestospray Corporation, a New York Corporation, U.S.D.C., D. Kansas, Case No. 89-1331.
  • Board of Education for the School District of the City of Detroit v. Celotex, et al., Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, No. 84-429634-ND.
  • Board of Education of the City of Chicago, et al. v. ACandS, et al.; Evanston Community Consolidated School District No. 65 v. ACandS, et al,; Board of Education of High School District No. 211 v. ACandS, et al., Cook County Illinois, Circuit Court, No. 92 L 9933; No. 92 L 99332; No. 92 L 9927.
  • Mike Moore, Attorney General ex rel, State of Mississippi v. Flintkote, et al., Jackson County, Mississippi, Circuit Court, No. 89-5138 (2).
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Owns-Corning Fiberglas, et al., Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Superior Court, C.A. No. 90-3791-A.
Major Class Actions, Federal Court Multidistrict Litigation and Consolidated Personal Injury Trials in Asbestos Litigation
  • In Re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI), Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, MDL Docket No. 875.
  • In Re: Asbestos School Litigation, U.S.D.C., E.D. Pa., Master File No: 83-0268. National class action for removal of asbestos from public and private school buildings.
  • Central Wesleyan College, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated v. Asbestospray Corporation, et al., U.S.D.C., D. South Carolina, Civ. No. 2: 87-1860-B. National class action for removal of asbestos from public and private college and university buildings.
  • Prince George Center, Inc., et al. v. United States Gypsum Company, et al., Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, Civil Trial Division, May Term, 1986, No. 5388. National class action for asbestos removal from all buildings owned by private owners leased to the federal government.
  • Carol Fletcher, et al., on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Brooke Group, Ltd., et al., Mobile County, Alabama, Circuit Court, Civil Action No. CV97-913. Employers’ asbestos-related recoupment subclass co-counsel, national class action for all claimants for damages from smoking Liggett cigarettes.
  • Consolidated New York Powerhouse Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation, New York County, New York, Supreme Court.
  • Abate II Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Baltimore City, Maryland, Circuit Court. Consolidated trial involving approximately 1500 plaintiffs.
  • Monongalia Mass II, Monongalia Mass III Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Monongalia County, West Virginia, Circuit Court. Two separate consolidated cases each involving several hundred plaintiffs.
  • In Re: Asbestos Cases III Consolidated Asbestos Personal Injury Cases, Kanawha County, West Virginia, Circuit Court. Consolidated trial involving several hundred plaintiffs.
  • Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Corp., U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota Civ. No. 92-0088 (DDA/RLE). Subrogation case involving several hundred former workers occupationally exposed to asbestos at a northern Minnesota mill manufacturing ceiling tile.
  • Wood Conversion Company v. Allstate Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, First State Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, and Westchester Insurance Company, Ramsey County, Minnesota, District Court, No. 62-CV-09-2420.